world leaders from president obama to the u.n. secretary general, ban ki-moon, offered prayers and remembrances. but mr. mandela held on this summer. by the time of his 95th birthday on july 18th, with crowds gathered outside his hotel room to sing to him, to celebrate his life, mr. mandela was described by then as responding to treatment and his doctors said he was steadily improving. by august, mr. mandela was breathing normally. and although he was still battling the lung infection that had hospitalized him in the first place, in august, he was -- excuse me, on the first of september, he was discharged from the hospital, so that he can continue to receive intensive care at home, in johannesburg. after he died at his home today in johannesburg, his home there is where south africans have gathered tonight to pay their respects. joining us now is nbc news africa correspondent, rohit, thank you very much for being with us. what can you tell us just about the scene where you are and the reaction there? >> reporter: well, rachel, a q